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Senior associate, V50, niche transactional practice. On track for income partnership in two years or so. Out of law school, I worked at a smaller mid-size firm, and I would have killed to work at the firm I do now (especially for the money I'm making). When I lateraled over 4-5 years ago, I was so excited to do the work. Now, I get annoyed when a client emails me or when my bosses have something. I don't hate the work, or the partners I work for, but there's no enthusiasm either. Any success stories about getting the eagerness back in your daily practice?

How long has it been since you took an actual, extended vacation with little to no work? I've had the feeling you are describing and it's generally a symptom that I am burning out and need a vacation. Generally I come back after a week or two having shook that feeling...

SFSpartan wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:55 pm

How long has it been since you took an actual, extended vacation with little to no work? I've had the feeling you are describing and it's generally a symptom that I am burning out and need a vacation. Generally I come back after a week or two having shook that feeling...

This. Also, get your testosterone levels checked.

It never comes back dude. You’re lucky you made it this long. The work sucks, you work way more than your clients for less pay, and are trapped in paper arguing over verbiage that doesn’t move the needle on whether the deal gets done. Do everything you can to leave law.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:49 am

It never comes back dude. You’re lucky you made it this long. The work sucks, you work way more than your clients for less pay, and are trapped in paper arguing over verbiage that doesn’t move the needle on whether the deal gets done. Do everything you can to leave law.

What do you mean by this?

aspiring0L wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:50 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:49 am

It never comes back dude. You’re lucky you made it this long. The work sucks, you work way more than your clients for less pay, and are trapped in paper arguing over verbiage that doesn’t move the needle on whether the deal gets done. Do everything you can to leave law.

What do you mean by this?

Different anon, but this is a pretty typical take on biglaw, and sometimes law generally. It means what it says.

SFSpartan wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:55 pm

How long has it been since you took an actual, extended vacation with little to no work? I've had the feeling you are describing and it's generally a symptom that I am burning out and need a vacation. Generally I come back after a week or two having shook that feeling...

I've found that an extended vacation almost always has the exact opposite effect on me. More "how can I get out of this profession as soon as possible" and less "I am so refreshed, I can't wait to go back to pushing paper on made up deadlines."

I think the '"eagerness" you're describing is really a reaction to novelty. Novelty fades. The challenge is finding a persisting interest in your subject matter once the issues are no longer novel. Most don't ever find one, and leave, either the firm or the industry.

Excellent117 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:44 pm

SFSpartan wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:55 pm

How long has it been since you took an actual, extended vacation with little to no work? I've had the feeling you are describing and it's generally a symptom that I am burning out and need a vacation. Generally I come back after a week or two having shook that feeling...

I've found that an extended vacation almost always has the exact opposite effect on me. More "how can I get out of this profession as soon as possible" and less "I am so refreshed, I can't wait to go back to pushing paper on made up deadlines."

wholeheartedly agree

this job becomes even more awful when you get a sustained period of low work/no work and enjoy life and see how other people live

I think the worst part about biglaw is that it desensitizes you to general misery and stress because we're all going through it to varying extents. not that other jobs are perfect, and of course the money is great, but point still stands.

"How to Change Your Mind" by Pollan, free pdf on interweb. Also find his 60 Minutes interview on YouTube.

Some of this has to involve positive psychology. If you see your job as "pushing paper," you're probably not going to ever end up being very happy while doing it...

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 4:50 am

"How to Change Your Mind" by Pollan, free pdf on interweb. Also find his 60 Minutes interview on YouTube.

I don't think finding your work annoying is the kind of depression, anxiety, or addiction for which pscyhedelic therapy might be helpful. (Also, buy the book rather than violating copyright.)

Lateral

Above, yes, Lateral sounds good.

Re: Pollan book, How to Change Your Mind, the title of thread is how to get eagerness back, that's got to be changing your mind. Get book at library so no copyright laws are violated.

Of course it's entirely up to the Original Poster if he should explore what Pollan discusses in his book. Since some of what Pollan discusses can be quite shocking. And violations of state and federal law.

That being said, I don't think Pollan's book should be burned or banned.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:40 am

SFSpartan wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 06, 2022 4:55 pm

How long has it been since you took an actual, extended vacation with little to no work? I've had the feeling you are describing and it's generally a symptom that I am burning out and need a vacation. Generally I come back after a week or two having shook that feeling...

This. Also, get your testosterone levels checked.

And maybe try going to a bar and getting some military types to sing to you. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFT0jGibz80)

Joking of course. A break - long or short, or even just trying to take advantage of slower times on deals and get into routines for a few weeks - can help; so can trying to figure out why you're doing this beyond the money (if at all).

get eagerness back

I accomplish that by going on to Zillow and looking at $20m homes in Malibu

Works every time

I had this as a 3rd or 4th year litigator. I decided to clerk again. I clerked for a judge that was a total competitor. Was a well regarded trial lawyer, and loved the fight of trial. It got me jazzed to get back into the fight, and it really extended my time in biglaw. I don't know if there's anything like that for transactional, and if not then I'm sorry to derail, but I figured I'd share what helped me.

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:09 pm

get eagerness back

I accomplish that by going on to Zillow and looking at $20m homes in Malibu

Works every time

Pretty sure that should be the motivation to not give a fuck and get out of the meat grinder.

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:09 pm

get eagerness back

I accomplish that by going on to Zillow and looking at $20m homes in Malibu

Works every time

Lol based on what everyone on this site says, you are never going to be able to afford (either reasonably or by stretching your income) a $20m home outside of commuting distance. Get real.

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:33 am

That being said, I don't think Pollan's book should be burned or banned.

No one said it should.

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:09 pm

get eagerness back

I accomplish that by going on to Zillow and looking at $20m homes in Malibu

Works every time

It's funny because this is how I got pumped before inflation blew the prices out of the water. "If I make partner I could afford THIS unreal house!" Now even if I make partner I'll still be renting some mediocre house for the foreseeable future.

12YrsAnAssociate wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 6:02 pm

barre777 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 08, 2022 2:09 pm

get eagerness back

I accomplish that by going on to Zillow and looking at $20m homes in Malibu

Works every time

It's funny because this is how I got pumped before inflation blew the prices out of the water. "If I make partner I could afford THIS unreal house!" Now even if I make partner I'll still be renting some mediocre house for the foreseeable future.

Ouch. This is so very painfully true. "Maybe one day if I work 60+ hours for the next 5 years I could have *either* a guest room or a home office 40+ minutes from NY!"